Reversible circular lock



April 1967 w. E. ATKINSON 3,312,089

REVERSIBLE CIRCULAR LOCK Filed Nov. 30, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WALLACE E. ATKINSON I ma m wunlcQv %umm&

ATTORNEYS April 4, 1967 w. E. ATKINSON 3,312,089

REVERSIBLE CIRCULAR LOCK Filed Nov. 30, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 33 31 may 69 5| I L; 5 Q

38 5 19 $2 .2: 5'2 20 q e7 IG &2: 23 75 46- i 5e Q Q, 74 0% 7 TI IH A g ilg- 5 5 8 IINVENTOR WALLACE eA-mmsm ATTORNEYS April 4, 1967 w. E. ATKINSON 3,312,089

REVERSIBLE CIRCULAR LOCK Filed Nov. 30, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 figs Z INVENTOR WALLACE E. ATKINSON miim iwww af fkmma ATTORNEY S United States Patent 3,312,089 REVERSIBLE CIRCULAR LOCK Wallace E. Atkinson, Petersburg, Va., assignor to Long Manufacturing Company, Inc., Petersburg, Va., a corporation of Virginia Filed Nov. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 414,560 4 Claims. (Cl. 7070) This invention relates to a combined latch and lock structure, and more particularly to a latch and lock structureespecially adapted for application to containers or receptacles comprising separable parts to be releasably secured in closed relation.

For simplified production techniques and greater aesthetic appeal it is at times desirable to have a latch and lock member which has the same overall inner and outer appearance regardless of the position in which it might be mounted. Therefore, for the foregoing reasons a desirable latch and lock member for the purposes herein contemplated should be reversible from a left hand lock to a right hand lock with the minimum change of parts and assembly technique.

Therefore, an object of this invention is the provision of a combined latch and lock structure of extremely pleasing form and of special utility in that it may be assembled to luggage or like apparatus without protruding greatly from the surface of the luggage.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a combined latch and lock mechanism having key lock facilities therein which are adapted to be affixed to the other separable part of the receptacle and includes an internally mounted reversible member disposed within an outer external circular member wherein the internal reversible member permits the lock structure to be changed from a left hand lock to a right hand lock Without the substitution or addition of additional parts.

Further aims, objects and advantages of this invention will appear from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings showing for purely illustrative purposes embodiments of this invention. It is to be understood, however, that the description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a piece of luggage embodying the latch and lock structure of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view of the latch and lock structure shown in latched position on a piece of a receptacle;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view of the combined latch and lock structure;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section view of the combined latch and lock structure shown in a closed but unlatched and unlocked position taken along lines 44 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section view taken along lines 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section view taken along lines 6-6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical section view similar to FIG- URE 6, however, showing the structure in both a latched and locked position;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical section view taken along lines 8--8 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 9 is a horizontal section view taken along lines 99 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 10 is a vertical section view similar to that of FIGURE 6, but showing the latch and lock structure assembled for opposite operation; and

FIGURE 11 is a vertical section view similar to that Patented Apr. 4, I967 ice of FIGURE 7, but showing the latch and lock structure assembled for opposite operation.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the severalfigures, the latch and lock structure of the present invention is indicated generally by the reference character 2t} and comprises two sub-assemblies or sections which may be called the latching section 21 and the keeper section 22. The latching section 21 is mounted on the front wall of the lower receptacle body 23 and the keeper section 22 is mounted on the front wall of a separable receptacle cover 24 which is usually hinged to the body portion 23. The plane of separation between the receptacle body 23 and the receptacle cover 24 is indicated by the reference numeral 25.

The keeper section 22 comprises a keeper body 26 adapted to be afiixed to the receptacle cover 24 by means of suitable fasteners 27, projecting through the front wall of the cover 24 and terminating within mating recesses 28. Projecting outwardly from the keeper body 26 is a keeper lug 29 having at its fartherrnost face a downwardly projecting catch tongue 31.

The latching section 21 generally comprises a rotatable circular cover 32 which may be cast of any suitable material. The circular cover 32 has about its periphery an inwardly facing cylindrical flange 33 adapted to completely cover the operative parts of the latching section when the latching section is fully asembled. As will later be seen the cover 32 additionally encompasses the keeper lug 29 when the receptacle cover 24 and body 23 are in a closed position ready for the locking operation. Since the cover 32 is to be rotatable about its center, there is provided about its periphery suitable knurls 34 to enable the cover 32 to be easily rotated in the desired manner. Within the center of the cover 32 is located a key barrel aperture 35 which receives an ordinary key barrel 36 in which the locking key is inserted to eifect locking and unlocking of the structure 20.

Located on the interior front wall 37 of the cover 32 is a raised portion 38 running generally across the width of the cover, excepting the area adjacent the flange 33, which not only supports the key barrel 36 but also has a pair of bolt stops 39, 41 generally located on opposite sides of the interior wall from one another. Depending downwardly from the raised portion 39 and located near the bolt stop 41 is a bolt detent 42; the function of which will become clear at a later time. The lower most portion of the interior front wall 37 is raised to define a bolt support surface 43 and spring support recess 44.

To effect locking and unlocking of the structure 29 a bolt 45 is provided which is adapted. for reciprocative movement across the interior front wall 37 of cover 32 while one side of the bolt rests in a sliding engagement with bolt support surface 43 and the other side being engaged at predetermined times with bolt detent 42. The bolt 45 is maintained in an upwardly disposed position against bolt detent 42 by means of a generally U shaped resilient spring 46. The upper leg 47 of the spring maintains continuous sliding contact with the undersurface 43 of bolt 45. Generally in the center of the bolt 45 there is located a key recess 49 to receive the inserted key from the key barrel 36 which, when turned, will reciprocate the bolt 45 to effect locking and unlocking. On the upper portion of bolt 45, generally flanking the key recess 4?, are suitable lugs 51, 52 which are adapted to coact with bolt stops 39 and 41 respectively to limit the amount of reciprocative travel of the bolt. Located generally between stop lug 52 and key recess 49 in the upper portion of bolt 45, is a bolt detent recess 53 which provides in cooperation with detent 42 an actual detent action to the movement of the bolt. As will be seen later, when the bolt detent 42 rests within the recess 53 the bolt is in an unlock position and when the detent 42 rests upon the sloping surface 54 of the stop lug 52 the bolt is in a lock position and forcibly retained therein by the upward pressure of spring 46 maintaining the sloping surface 54 against the detent 42. Within slot 55 at the lower edge of the interior front wall 37 there is adapted to be mounted a rolling detent 56, the purpose of which will later be shown.

Of primary importance to the present invention is the provision of a reversible circular disc 57 which, depending upon its mode of assembly, determines the direction of operation of the cover 32. The disc 57 is secured to the interior front wall 37 by means of mounting screws 58 projecting through apertures 59 of the disc and subsequently terminating in mating recesses 61 located within the various raised portions of interior wall 37. The disc 57 has a keeper lug relieved area 62 through which the keeper lug 29 projects for latching purposes wherein the relieved area 62 permits the disc 57 to rotate with the circular cover 32 when the latter two are attached to each other thus permitting latching and unlatching. Generally directly below the relieved area 62 is an elongated limit pin aperture 63 of suitable length to accept pin 83 therethrough and still permit disc 57 to rotate its required amount during latching and unlatohing. Along the bottom periphery of disc 57 are two assembly notches 64, 65--the purpose of which is not important in the present invention. The notches 64, 65 are used in assembling the latch and lock structure.

Just rearwardly of the disc 57 and mating within circular cover 32 is circular base member 66 which is securely atlixed to the front wall of receptacle body 23 by fasteners 67 projecting through the front wall into the base member 66. The circular base member 66 comprises a circular base plate generally indicated by numeral 63 from the periphery of which outwardly projects a cylindrical flange 69 adapted to be received concentrically Within the inwardly facing cylindrical flange 33 of the cover 32. Flange 69 actually rests between the confines of the peripheral edge of disc 57 and the cylindrical flange 33. Interrupting the surface of the base plate portion 68 is a keeper lug recess 71 which coacts with keeper lug 29 to allow the receptacle cover 24 to close upon the lower receptacle body 23 thereby allowing the keeper lug 29 to project into the latching section 21 when the cover keeper lug receiving opening 72 and the keeper lug recess 71 are in registry. Spaced around the cylindrical flange 69 in one hemisphere thereof are located openings 73 and 74 which are adapted to receive the locking l-ug 75 of bolt 45. Also within the cylindrical flange 69 are located a plurality of rolling detent recesses 76, 77, and 78.

Maintaining the latching section 21 together for operative movement is a suitable rivet 7 9 which projects through a center opening 81 in the base member 66 and terminates in rotatable holding engagement with aperture 82 of disc 57. Projecting from the circular base plate 68 is a pin 83 adapted to be received within the limit pin aperture 63 to help support the key bushing 36.

The operation of the present invention is basically described by reference to FIGURES 5, 6, and 7 wherein the views shown are rear section views of the latch and lock structure 20 and it should be remembered that any rotational movements described when viewing these figures are opposite of the directions of movement when viewing the lock from the front as might be when viewing FIG- URE 2. FIGURIES and 6 show the latch and lock structure with the receptacle cover and body closed allowing the keeper section 22 and the latching section 21 to come into a position that allows latching to take place. These two figures show the structure in a closed position unlatched and unlocked. However, FIGURE 6 is identical to FIGURE 5 except that it shows the circular disc 57 in operative position within cover 32. As can be seen in FIGURE 6 side 84 of the relief area 62 lies closely adjacent the keeper lug 29. Since the lug 29 overlies the disc 57 it is obvious that in FIGURE 6 the circular disc has but one direction of rotation possible and that is in a clockwise manner. Since the lock in this figure is closed, but unlatched, the rolling detent 56 will necessarily be within the middle or neutral detent recess 77. Regardless of the placement of disc 57, in an unlatched and unlocked position the rolling detent 56 will always rest in the neutral detent recess 77. To latch the structure shown in FIGURE 6 it is merely necessary to grasp the circular cover 32 and rotate it in a clockwise manner to the right thereby bringing its inwardly facing cylindrical flange 33 overtop of keeper lug 29 which obviously prevents the keeper lug from being disengaged from the latching section 2 1.

If the circular cover 32 is being rotated it necessarily carries with it all parts of the structure that are firmly mounted thereto. Therefore, the locking bolt 45 will be carried in a clockwise manner so that the locking lug 75 will be positioned opposite bolt opening 73 of base member 66. When cover 32 is rotated it necessarily follows that the sloping surfaces of the neutral detent 77 will forcibly raise the rolling detent 56 against the resilient spring 46 and allow the rolling detent 56 to be carried along the inner surface of the base member flange 69 until the detent engages detent recess 78. Upon the engagement of detent 56 and recess 78 the lock operator then feels such a detent action and knows that the lock is then in a securely latched position. At this time it is then possible to lock the structure by inserting the key into the key barrel 36 and engaging the key recess 49 of the bolt. Then by turning the key in the proper direction the bolt is reciprocated until the locking lug 75 passes through opening 73 and abuts the flange 33 of the circular cover or until stop lug 51 rests against bolt stop 39.

As the bolt reciprocates upon turning of the key the bolt detent 42 forces the end of the bolt opposite the locking lug downwardly as the bolt detent recess 53 moves out of engagement with detent 42. This action cornpresses spring 46 which after complete disengagement of detent 42 and recess 53, then forces the bolt upwardly maintaining contact between detent 42 and the sloping surface 54 of stop lug 52. When the bolt 45 is fully reciprocated to its locking position shown by FIGURE 7 the resilient action of spring 46 forces a sloping surface 54 against detent 42 maintaining the bolt in its locked position until the key is reinserted to reverse the process. With the locking lug 75 projecting through opening 73 it is apparent that circular cover 32 may not be rotated to the unlatched position of FIGURE 6 since to do so would necessarily bring locking lug 75 into an unmovable engagement with base member flange 69. Thus, it can be seen that the lock structure is firmly secured and may only then be opened with a key made for the purpose.

An especially important feature of this invention is the provision of the reversible circular disc 57 which may be positioned so as to permit the circular cover 32 to rotate either clockwise or counterclockwise to effect locking. The direction of rotation is determined at the time of assembly by, the manner in which disc 57 is mounted to the interior front wall 37 of the circular cover. As has been noted, if the disc is mounted as shown in FIG- URE 6 then the cover 32 can be rotated only in a clockwise direction, when viewing the lock from its rear such as shown in FIGURE 6. However, if the disc 57 is reversed and mounted in the position shown by FIGURE 10 then it should be apparent that the cover 32 may rotate only in a counterclockwise direction. The mounting apertures 59 are located symmetrically with one another but, as is readily seen in FIGURE 10, these apertures are not symmetrical with the keeper lug relief 62. Therefore, as the plate is reversed with respect to the cover 32 the relief area 62 will necessarily be angularly displaced from its previous position relative to the keeper lug 29. This displacement in effect determines which direction the cover 32 may rotate.

FIGURES and 11 show the disc 57 reversed from that shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 and it is apparent that cover 32 in this condition will rotate counterclockwise. Such a rotation will move the rolling detent 56 out of the neutral detent position 77 and position it ultimately in detent recess 76. When in this position, shown by FIGURE 11, the latch and lock structure is in both a closed and latched condition and, in the manner previously described, by the use of a proper key the locking bolt 45 may be reciprocated and positioned in bolt opening 74 to effect locking of the device.

From the above there is shown where a new and novel latch and lock structure has been conceived that enables the manufacturer to make one lock, yet also to end up with two entirely different locks by the provision of interchangeable parts. During the manufacturing process it is merely necessary to position the disc 57 in a desired manner in order to have a latch and lock structure which may be opened by either a clockwise or a counterclockwise rotation. It should be noted that it is often desirable on luggage to have a pair of locks flanking the area of the handle, and when such a pair is used the most convenient method of using the locks is to have them turn for locking or unlocking in opposite directions to one another. Therefore, the type of lock presented by the present invention meets the above noted requirements and should meet with instant commercial success.

Various modifications may be made in the invention Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is desired therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and are set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A latch for releasably securing together separable parts of a receptacle adjacent a line of separation along coplanar front surfaces of the parts comprising, a base member mounted on one of the parts, a keeper member mounted on the other of the parts adapted to be arranged for interlocking engagement with the base member to lock the parts against separation, a locking member rotatably mounted so as to overlie the base member to effect interlocking between the base member and the keeper member, and means associated with the base member and the locking member to permit rotation of the locking member in a predetermined direction to effect interlocking of the separable parts, the last named means being a separate reversible member of flat disc configuration mounted with a predetermined face towards the locking member so that the disc is usable in the latch to control the direction of movement of the locking member.

2. A latch for releasably securing together separable parts of a receptacle adjacent a line of separation along coplanar front surfaces of the parts comprising, a base member mounted on one of the parts, a keeper member mounted on the other of the parts adapted to be arranged for interlocking engagement with the base member to lock the parts against separation, a locking member rotatably mounted so as to overlie the base member to effect interlocking between the base member and the keeper member, and means associated with the base member and the locking member to effect interlocking of the separable parts, the last named means being a separate reversible member of flat disc configuration mounted with a predetermined face towards the locking member so that the disc is usable in the latch to control the direction of movement of the locking member, a relieved peripheral zone in the disc member permitting only one direction of rotation by the locking member.

3. A latch for releasably securing together separable parts of a receptacle adjacent a line of separation along coplanar front surfaces of the parts comprising, a base member mounted on one of the parts, a keeper member mounted on the other of the parts adapted to be arranged for interlocking engagement with the base member to lock the parts against separation, a locking member rotatably mounted so as to overlie the base member to effect interlocking between the base member and the keeper member, and means associated with the base member and the locking member to effect interlocking of the separable parts, the last named means being a separate reversible member of flat disc configuration mounted with a predetermined face towards the locking member so that the disc is usable in the latch to control the direction of movement of the locking member, a relieved peripheral zone in the disc member, the peripheral zone being adapted to be angularly shifted to effect a predetermined direction of rotation of the locking member by reversing the disc member with respect to the locking member.

4. A latch for releasably securing together separable parts of a receptacle adjacent a line of separation along coplanar front surfaces of the parts comprising, a base member mounted on one of the parts, the base member having a peripheral outwardly extending flange, a plurality of interruptions in the base member flange, a keeper member mounted on the other of the parts adapted to be arranged for interlocking engagement with the base member to lock the parts against separation, the keeper member having a projecting lug adapted to interfit with one of the base member fiange interruptions, a locking member rotatably mounted so as to overlie the base member to effect interlocking between the base member and the keeper member, a peripheral outwardly extending flange associated with the locking member concentrically mounted about the base member flange, a lock bolt positioned on the locking member for reciprocative movement thereacross to effect locking engagement with one of the base member flange interruptions, the lock bolt being rotatable with the locking member, and means associated with the base member and the locking member to effect interlocking of the separable parts, the last named m'eans being a member of flat disc configuration affixed to the locking member, a relieved peripheral zone in the disc member, the peripheral zone being adapted to be angularly shifted to effect a predetermined direction of rotation of the locking member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 320,036 8/1885 Adams 7O 781,621 1/1905 Salviolo 70-75 2,362,254 11/1944 Endter 292-244 3,008,321 11/1961 Gonzalez 7074 3,141,319 7/1964 Schlage 70-462 X BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner, 

4. A LATCH FOR RELEASABLY SECURING TOGETHER SEPARABLE PARTS OF A RECEPTACLE ADJACENT A LINE OF SEPARATION ALONG COPLANAR FRONT SURFACES OF THE PARTS COMPRISING, A BASE MEMBER MOUNTED ON ONE OF THE PARTS, THE BASE MEMBER HAVING A PERIPHERAL OUTWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE, A PLURALITY OF INTERRUPTIONS IN THE BASE MEMBER FLANGE, A KEEPER MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE OTHER OF THE PARTS ADAPTED TO BE ARRANGED FOR INTERLOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BASE MEMBER TO LOCK THE PARTS AGAINST SEPARATION, THE KEEPER MEMBER HAVING A PROJETING LUG ADAPTED TO INTERFIT WITH ONE OF THE BASE MEMBER FLANGE INTERRUPTIONS, A LOCKING MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED SO AS TO OVERLIE THE BASE MEMBER TO EFFECT INTERLOCKING BETWEEN THE BASE MEMBER AND THE KEEPER MEMBER, A PERIPHERAL OUTWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOCKING MEMBER CONCENTRICALLY MOUNTED ABOVE THE BASE MEMBER FLANGE, A LOCK BOLT POSITIONED ON THE LOCKING MEMBER FOR RECIPROCATIVE MOVEMENT THEREACROSS TO EFFECT LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE OF THE BASE MEMBER FLANGE INTERRUPTIONS, THE LOCK BOLT BEING ROTATABLE WITH THE LOCKING MEMBER, AND MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BASE MEMBER AND THE LOCKING MEMBER TO EFFECT INTERLOCKING OF THE SEPARABLE PARTS, THE LAST NAMED MEANS BEING A MEMBER OF FLAT DISC CONFIGURATION AFFIXED TO THE LOCKING MEMBER, A RELIEVED PERIPHERAL ZONE IN THE DISC MEMBER, THE PERIPHERAL ZONE BEING ADAPTED TO BE ANGULARLY SHIFTED TO EFFECT A PREDETERMINED DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF THE LOCKING MEMBER. 